I always enjoy Coot’s puzzles. This one’s particularly good. Highly recommended.

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

Bard's turn in the Indy today.

📕 Catchphrase from heavy-going books, setter falls for solver in the second (2,2,2,3)
🌋 Briefly fume before violent rumble (3,7)
🪨 Loose rock formation in dangerous creek (5)

Play for free!
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

#cryptic #crossword #puzzle

And a very good puzzle it is too!

What wonderful news! Congratulations @liari.bsky.social!

Not sure whether it’s the best but the other day I was very moved by this from ‘Deacon Blues’ by Steely Dan:
They got a name for the winners in the world.
I want a name when I lose.

A wonderful way to generate ideas for seamless joins between definition and wordplay.

This is wonderful! Thanks @mycrossword.co.uk ! This plus the asterisk functionality within the pattern matcher are the parts I’m particularly impressed with at the moment.

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

Maybe 8 out of 10 Cats ended prematurely, in for broadcast (8)

It's a pleasure, as always, to set The Independent #cryptic #crossword, especially one with such a lovely palindromic number. I hope it brightens your day!

puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

SOCIETY: Do you know the period around mid-December that’s really dark/cold? When everyone’s ill?
ME: Yes…
SOCIETY: Let’s make that when we schedule annual gatherings and concerts for EVERYTHING, including ALL workplaces, schools, clubs…
ME: But that would be ridic-
SOCIETY: Great - that’s sorted!

Christmas* cryptic (crossword) corner meet up, tomorrow night, The Montpelier, Peckham, 6.30pm. Join us if you fancy.

*not really Christmas, just December, but I might buy extra crisps *and* those Scampi Fries.

FT Crossword: Number 18,232

I set the cryptic crossword in the weekend edition of The @financialtimes.com.
Sample clue: Page One in today's fresh hellscape (8).
Solve the puzzle on the FT app or print the pdf here:
www.ft.com/content/a694...

To be clear - the dedication is not to suggest an equivalence between you and the solution!

Also included is this one, dedicated to @charliemethven.bsky.social :
Charlie? Charlie! (4)

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

I set today’s cryptic crossword in the Independent.

Sample clue:
Flamboyant playwright - Coward? - lies around (5,5)

Solve it here FOR FREE:
puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

Thrilled to be back in the Indy Cryptic slot today. Sample clue: Over the top of muesli, mostly nuts (7)

Give it a go at puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Is there anyone out there with access to the Oxford English Dictionary who’s happy for me to DM them a question?

I set today's Independent puzzle - but I won't make a song and dance about it.

puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Brilliant! Congratulations! 🎉

Twitch Twitch is the world

Another great bunch of crosswords to choose from on MyCrossword this week, delighted to have a chance to stream new cryptics by @pantherapuzzles.bsky.social and @liari.bsky.social! Join us at 12 GMT! #crypticSunday
twitch.tv/crypticsunday

Brilliant idea brilliantly executed - thank you and well done!

All clear - the only break she’s got is the one from school!

Then I read news coverage of the recent Westminster budget, all of which seems to assume that tax is in itself a bad thing that should be avoided as much as possible. That’s not how it looks from where I’m sitting.

I’m currently in the waiting room of the radiography department of Queen Margaret University in Dunfermline. (My daughter’s injured her foot.) As always with the NHS I am moved by the care we’re receiving from wonderful people…

You should also do today’s Indy and Guardian cryptics. The young’uns are taking over!

You should do today’s Times cryptic.

And then you should do today’s Financial Times cryptic. Including:
Giant bird with many wings taking flight (5)

Solve it FOR FREE …
- at ft.com/crosswordapp
- printing it out at ft.com/crossword

Mini crossword No 175 · MyCrossword Solve Mini crossword No 175 on MyCrossword. 7x7 grid with 12 clues by Conto. Published Mon 24 Nov 2025. Features annotated solutions. Free to solve online.

An experiment … mycrossword.co.uk/mini/175

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

I set today's cryptic in the Indy. Including:
Spinning throw breaks dish (4,3)
Fighting has mainly imposed on US? (4,7)
Provoke Gregorian at the outset with year missing from their calendar? (4)
Solve for free here: puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Well done you! Fantastic achievement, and no mean feat, as I know all too well. Lovely mini puzzle too.

CrypticSunday - Twitch Hello we are Matt and Rachel.We stream cryptic crosswords almost every Sunday at 12pm UK time.

New crosswords by Coot and Prak await us on today's #CrypticSunday stream, so we're likely to need some help! Join us at 12!
twitch.tv/crypticsunday

Unch Crossword Magazine Unch, the clued-up crossword magazine

ISSUE 2 PRE-SALES NOW OPEN!

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Coming out in JANUARY 2026

unchcrosswords.com